DOHA, Qatar -- Doha Bank sponsored and developed a project to build a giant soccer ball, which measures 40 feet in diameter, unveiled at a ceremony in Doha at the Lulu Hypermarket carpark; the ball sets the new world record for the Largest soccer ball,
according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/.

Photo: The 960-kilo, 40-foot high ball beat out Oman's previous world record by more than 200 kilos. (enlarge photo)

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the most people dribbling a football (soccer ball) simultaneously: 2,068 - in an event organized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Gaza Field Office (Palestinian Entity, West Bank-Gaza) in Rafah, Gaza Strip.

The Guinness world record for the largest football made from artificial leather measures 8 m (26 ft 3 in) in diameter and was made by Galerias Guadalajara with the support of Adidas and Marti. The ball was displayed at the Galerias Guadalajara shopping centre, Jalisco, Mexico.

The 960-kilo, 40-foot high ball beat out Oman's previous record by more than 200 kilos.

The record-breaking soccer ball, which is nine feet bigger in diameter than the previous title holder, was designed "to support the country's growing role in soccer," a statement said.

"The idea of developing the world's largest soccer ball or football was to not just set a record but to generate awareness of the role football plays in Qatar at every level of society," said Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R Seetharaman.

Qatar is set to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup and is set to invest nearly US$100bn in infrastructure projects over the next decade.